I took two pieces of pine 1×4 and cut them a little longer than the height i wanted (green pieces), then I laminated another 1×4 (red) to the green piece with an offset for the bench thickness and the thickness of the blue 1×4. Once the glue is dry, I cut the legs to length. The blue piece is screwed and glued into the red pieces. There’s also a 5/16” hole drilled 3/8” from the top of the legs and through the bench top itself. I put a piece of 1/4-20 all thread through it and used some of these to secure the legs to the top.

As for the bench itself, i just hand mortised the recessed area.

-- An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools